The Australian government will run an Airbus A319 on the new air service between Tasmania and Antarctica for five years from February. It will be leased and operated by Sydney-based Skytraders, which runs intra-continental flights connecting Australia's research centres using two ski-equipped EADS Casa C212-400s.
The A319, with capacity for 19 to 40 passengers, will be used to transport Australian researchers from Hobart to the new Wilkins blue ice runway, near Australia's Casey research centre in Antarctica. The air service will replace ships that currently carry the researchers, cutting the journey time from 10 days to 4h.
Skytraders' bid with the A319 was one of a number considered by the government. The A319 is due for delivery to Australia in January, to be followed by its first flight to the Wilkins runway in February. Ten to 20 flights by the A319 are expected each summer, says Australia's minister for the environment, Ian Campbell.
The contract award comes as Australia completes construction of the runway at Wilkins. That and the jet service were part of a A$463 million ($363 million) intercontinental air link project.
Source: Flight International
